Control device for a ten key adding printing machine



June 6, 1967 c. BELLIS 3,323,717

CONTROL DEVICE FOR A TEN KEY ADDING PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 20, 1965 INVENTOR. CARLO BELLI S AGENT United States Patent Italy Filed July 20, 1965, Ser. No. 473,314 Claims priority, application Italy, Aug. 1, 1964, 17,131/ 64 8 Claims. (Cl. 235-60) This invention relates to a control device for a ten key adding printing machine having a totalizelr split in a right portion and a left portion, said portions being adapted to cooperate with two groups of actuators controlled by two corresponding groups of orders of a transversely traveling stop pin carriage normally located immediately at right of the left group of actuators, a set of forked setting members being operable each one by a key of said keyboard for simultaneously setting the pins of two corresponding orders of said carriage, said carriage being provided With a first zero stop plate for disabling the non-significant orders of the left group of actuators.

There are known adding and accounting machines having a split totalizer to accumulate different amounts into each portion thereof. It has been also proposed a ten key adding machine having a stationary multiorder pin bed, wherein each key simultaneously sets two pins in two corresponding orders of the two groups of the carriage orders. The non-significant orders of the left group of actuators are controlled by a stationary zero stop plate, whereas the non-significant orders of the right group of actuators are controlled by a zero stop plate movable with respect to the pin bed,

whereby it must be located far from said pin bed and needs additional step by step displacing means.

This disadvantage is obviated by the control device according to the invention, which is characterized in that said carriage is also provided with a second zero stop plate located under the zero pins of the left group of orders of said carriage and adapted to cooperate with a counterstop provided on each actuator of the sole' right group of actuators for disabling the non-significant orders of the right group of actuators.

This and other characteristics of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof and from the accompanying drawing representing a partial perspective view of a ten key adding printing machine incorporating a control device according to the invention.

With reference to the drawing, the adding machine comprises a totalizer generically indicated by the numeral 1 and split in a right portion 2 and a left portion 3. The right portion 2 is provided with a fugitive one mechanism known per se and not shown in the drawing. The portions 2 and 3 are adapted to cooperate with two groups of actuators, namely a right group of actuators 4, and a left group of actuators respectively, which are differentially movable upwards under the control of a cyclically operable universal bar 6.

The actuators 4 and 5 are adapted to be controlled by a transversely traveling stop pin carriage 7 comprising in each order a column of settable stop pins 8 for the figures from zero to eight. The actuators 4 and 5 are provided with a shoulder 9 adapted to be arrested by the set up pins 8 and are connected each one by means of a rack 10 to a typewheel 11 pivoted on a hammer 12.

The hammers 12 may be individually released by a corresponding zero printing control latch 14 sensing the corresponding actuator 4 or 5 to cause the wheels 11 to print the amount represented thereby on a paper platen 13. Each latch 14 is provided with a projection 15 which in a known manner draws the latch 14 of next lower order to cause the significant Zeros to be printed. The latch 14 sensing the lower order of the actuators 5 is deprived from the projection 15, whereby the printing device is split in two portions and comprises two groups 16 and 17 of typewheels 11 corresponding to the portions 2 and 3 of the totalizer 1.

The carriage 7 is normally located with its highest order immediately at right of the left group of actuators 5. Therefore the columns of pins 8 are divided in a right group 18 located at right of the right group of actuators 4 and settable for cooperating therewith, and in a left group 19 normally located in front of the right group of actuators 4 and settable for cooperating with the left group of actuators 5. The carriage 7 is normally pulled leftwards by a spring not shown in the drawing and it is provided with a horizontal row of escapement stop pins 20 located at the bottom of the right group 18. Normally the first left hand escapement pin 20 contacts an escapement dog 21 as shown in the drawing.

The machine is provided with a conventional ten key keyboard, only one key 22 of which is shown'in the drawing. Each key 22 is secured to a rearwards movable forked setting member 23 provided with a pair of projections 24 and 25. The projection 24, and 25 respectively, is normally located in front of a pin 8 of the first column of the group 18, and of the group 19 respectively. Each setting member 23 when moved rearwards pushes a slide 26, which is provided with a projection 27 adapted to set up an escapement pin 20, whereby the carriage 7 may be moved one step leftwards.

Integral with the carriage 7 is a first zero stop plate or comb 28 having teeth 29 adapted to arrest the shoulders 9 of the left group of actuators 5, and a second zero stop plate or comb 30 having teeth 31 adapted to arrest a second counterstop or shoulder 32 provided on each actuator 4 of the sole right group, the actuators 5 of the left group being deprived from the shoulder 32. The comb 30 is located under the zero pins 8 of the right group 18.

Fulcrumed on a stationary pivot 34 is a lever 33 comprising a locking arm 35 adapted to engage the lowest tooth of the left group of actuators 5, but normally disengaged therefrom. The lever 33 is normally urged by a spring 36 to contact a pin 37 of a common member or lever 38 fulcrumed at 39. In turn the lever 38 is urged by a spring 41 prevailing over the spring 36 to contact a stationary pin 40. The lever 38 may be operated by a tapered edge 42 of the stem of a conventional total taking key 43, as well as by a tapered edge 44 of the stem of a conventional subtract key 45.

Furthermore the lever 33 is provided with a projection 46 adapted to cooperate with an end 47 of a predisposing element or slide 48 adapted to be manually set in each one of two positions I and II. The slide 48 is provided with a slot 49 slida-ble on a stationary pin 50 and with an aperture having a locking edge 51 urged by a spring 52 to contact a stationary pin 53. The slide 48 is also connected through a link 54 to a bail 55 fulcrumed on two stationary pivots S6 and adapted to cooperate with a projection 57 of the left group 17 of hammers 12.

The control device operates as follows.

The described control device causes the adding machine to be suitably used as a cash register where it is desired to print or record amounts, totalize them, print total and clear the totalizer portion after each transaction. Furthermore the control device causes the machine to print the paid money and the rest which is to be returned by the cashier. Finally, the grand total may be printed by clearing the other portion of the totalizer. When transactions are to be recorded the slide 48 must be predisposed in its forward position I shown in the drawing.

Each amount to be recorded is set up order by order through the ten key keyboard in both groups of columns 18 and 19 of the carriage 7. At the depression of each key 22 the corresponding setting member 23 through the projections 24 and 25, simultaneously sets up two corresponding pins 8 of the highest order of both groups 18 and 19. Furthermore the member 23 moves rearward the slide 26, the projection 27 of which sets up an escapement pin 20, thus causing the carriage 7 to be displaced one step leftwards. The comb 28 releases thus the shoulder 9 of the actuator of the lowest order, while the comb 30 releases the shoulder 32 of the actuator 4 of the lowest order. Since the left group of actuators 5 are deprived from the shoulder 32, the comb 30 does not affect these actuators.

Upon depressing a conventional adding key not shown in the drawing, an adding cycle is effected. Then the universal bar 6 releases the actuators 4 and 5, which are differentially moved upwards until the shoulders 9 are arrested by the corresponding set pins 8, thus positioning the typewheels 11 of both groups 16 and 17 according to the set up amount. Then the zero printing control latches 14 are operated in a known manner. However, since the slide 48 is located in the position I, the link 54 holds the bail 55 into the path of the projections 57 of the hammers 12 of the left group 17. Therefore the typewheels 11 of the right group 16 are allowed to print the set up amount on the paper strip, the typewheels 11 of the left group 17 being prevented from printing.

Thereafter the totalizer 1 is engaged with the actuators 4, and 5 respectively, which are now restored by the universal bar 6, whereby the set up amount is simultaneously accumulated in both the portions 2 and 3 of the totalizer 1. Near the end of the machine cycle the carriage 7 is temporarily returned at right of the actuators 4, in order to clear the carriage 7 in a known manner. Thereafter the carriage 7 is released and under the urge of its spring is arrested by the escapement dog 21 through the first left hand pin 20, whereby the carriage 7 returns in the initial position shown in the drawing.

When all the amounts relating to a predetermined transaction have been recorded on the paper and accumulated in both portions of the totalizer, the total key 43 is depressed to cause a total taking machine cycle. Furthermore, the tapered edge 42 of the key stem rocks the lever 38 counterclockwise, thus releasing the lever 33 from its pin 37. The spring 36 rocks now the lever 33 clockwise thus engaging the arm 35 with the lowest tooth of the actuators 5. Therefore during the total taking cycle, the right group of actuators 4 clears the corresponding portion 2 of the totalizer 1, while the left group of actuators 5 is locked by the arm 35 and cannot clear the portion 3 of the totalizer 1. The actuators 4 control the group'16 of typewheels 11 for printing on the paper the total of the transaction, whereas the portion 3 retains all the accumulated amounts, thus assuming the function of a grand total totalizer.

In the case the customer has to pay with a money higher than the total of the transaction, both the paid money and the rest to be returned may be recorded on the paper. In this order the subtotal of the transaction is at first taken from the portion 2 of the totalizer by means of a subtotal key not shown in the drawing. The

subtotal key operates the lever 38 in a manner similar to the total key 43.

Thereafter the paid money is set up into the ten key keyboard and the subtract key 45 is depressed. The tapered edge 44 of its key stem rocks counterclockwise the lever 38 in a manner similar to the total key 43, whereby during the subtract cycle the arm 35 prevents the left group of actuators 5 from being moved upwards. The paid money is subtracted only from the portion 2 of the totalizer 1, even if it has been set up in both groups of columns 18 and 19, and it is printed on the paper.

Since the portion 2 of the totalizer 1 is provided with a fugitive one mechanism, when the total key 43 is depressed a true negative total will be printed on the paper, said negative total representing the rest which is to be returned to the customer. It is thus clear that all the data of the transaction may be recorded on the paper strip, which may thus be used by the customer as a receipt or similar document.

At the end of the day the cashier may take the grand total by clearing the portion 3 of the totalizer 1. In this order the slide 48 is manually predisposed in its rearward position II shown by broken lines in the drawing. Then the link 54 rocks the bail 55 counterclockwise, thus releasing the projection 57 of the left group 17 of the hammers 12. In turn the end 47 of the slide 48 is placed into the path of the projection 46 of the lever 33. Upon depressing the total key 43, the lever 33 is prevented by the end 47 from rocking clockwise, whereby the actuators 5 are not locked. Since the portion 2 of the totalizer 1 is cleared upon each transaction, now the sole left portion 3 is cleared and the grand total is thus printed on the paper.

What I claim is:

1. A control device for a ten key adding printing machine having a totalizer split in a right portion and a left portion, two groups of actuators adapted to cooperate with said portions, a transversely traveling stop pin carriage comprising two groups of orders associated with said groups of actuators, said carriage being normally located immediately at right of the left group of actuators, and a set of forked setting members each one operable by a key of said keyboard for simultaneously setting the pins of two corresponding orders of said carriage, comprising in combination:

(a) a first stop plate bodily traveling with said carriage and adapted to disable the non-significant orders of the left group of actuators,

(b) a second zero stop plate bodily traveling with said carriage and located under the zero pins of the left group of orders of said carriage,

(c) and a counterstop provided on each actuator of the sole right group for cooperating with said second zero stop plate to cause the non-significant orders of the right group of actuators to be disabled.

2. A control device for a ten key adding printing machine having a totalizer split in a right portion and a left portion, two groups of actuators adapted to cooperate with said portions, a transversely traveling s-top pin carriage comprising two groups of orders associated with said groups of actuators, said carriage being normally located immediately at right of the left group of actuators, and a set of forked setting members each one operable by a key of said keyboard for simultaneously setting the pins of two corresponding orders of said carriage, comprising in combination:

(a) a first stop plate bodily traveling with said carriage and adapted to disable the non-significant orders of the left group of actuators,

(b) a "second zero stop plate bodily traveling with said carriage and located under the zero pins of the left group of orders of said carriage,

(c) a counterstop provided on each actuator of the sole right group for cooperating with said second zero stop plate to cause the non-significant orders of the right group of actuators to be disabled,

(d) and an escapement stop pin provided in each order of one group of orders only of said carriage.

3. A control device for a ten key adding printing machine having a totalizer split in a right portion and a left portion, two groups of actuators adapted to cooper ate with said portions, a transversely traveling stop pin carriage comprising two groups of orders associated with said groups of actuators, said carriage being normally located immediately at right of the left group of actuators, and a set of forked setting members each one operable by a key of said'keyboard for simultaneously setting the pins of two corresponding orders of said carriage, comprising in combination:

(a) a first stop plate bodily traveling with said carriage and adapted to disable the non-significant orders of the leftgroup of actuators,

(b) a second zero stop plate bodily traveling with said carriage and'located under the zero pins of the left group of orders of said carriage,

(c) a counterstop provided on each actuator of the sole right group for cooperating with said second zero stop plate to cause the non-significant orders of the right group of actuators to be disabled,

(d) a normally ineffective member for locking one of said groups of actuators,

(e) and a depressible total key adapted to render said member effective, whereby the total will be taken from the totalizer portion cooperating with the other group of actuators.

4. A control device for a ten key adding printing machine having a totalizer split in a right portion and a left portion, two groups of actuators adapted to cooperate with said portions, a transversely traveling stop pin carriage comprising two groups of orders associated with said groups of actuators, said carriage being norm-ally located immediately at right of the left group of actuators, and a set of forked setting members each one operable by a key of said keyboard for simultaneously setting the pins of two corresponding orders of said carriage, comprising in combination:

(a) a first stop plate bodily traveling with said carriage and adapted to disable the non-significant orders of the left group of actuators,

(b) a second zero stop plate bodily traveling with said carriage and located under the zero pins of the left group of orders of said carriage,

(c) a counterstop provided on each actuator of the sole right group for cooperating with said second zero stop plate to cause the non-significant orders of the right group of actuators to be disabled,

(d) a normally ineffective member for locking one of said groups of actuators,

(e) and a depressible subtract key adapted to render said member effective, whereby an amount set up into the two groups of orders of said carriage may be subtracted from the totalizer portion associated with the other group of actuators.

5. A control device for a ten key adding printing machine having a totalizer split in a right portion and a left portion, two groups of actuators adapted to cooperate with said portions, a transversely traveling stop pin carriage comprising two groups of orders associated with said groups of actuators, said carriage being normally located immediately at right of the left group of actuators, and a set of forked setting members each one operable by a key of said keyboard for simultaneously setting the pins of two corresponding orders of said carriage, comprising in combination:

(a) a first stop plate bodily traveling with said carriage and adapted to disable the non-significant orders of the left group of actuators,

(b) a second zero stop plate bodily traveling with said carriage and located under the zero pins of the left group of orders of said carriage,

(c) a counterstop provided on each actuator of the sole right group for cooperating with said second zero plate to cause the non-significant orders of the right group of actuators to be disabled,

((1) a normally ineffective member for locking one of said groups of actuators,

(e) a plurality of depressible function keys,

(f) and a common member operable by each one of Said function keys when depressed for rendering said locking member effective,

6. A control device for a ten key adding printing machine having a totalizer split in a right portion and a left portion, two groups of actuators adapted to cooperate with said portions, a transversely traveling stop pin carriage comprising two groups of orders associated with said groups of actuators, said carriage being normally located immediately at right of the left group of actuators, a set of forked setting members each one operable by a key of said keyboard for simultaneously setting the pins of two corresponding orders of said carriage, and two groups of printing members associated With said groups of actuators, comprising in combination:

(a) a first stop plate bodily traveling with said carriage and adapted to disable the non-significant orders of the left group of actuators,

(b) a second Zero stop plate bodily traveling with said carriage and located under the zero pins of the left group of orders of said carriage,

(c) a counterstop provided on each actuator of the sole right group for cooperating with said second Zero stop plate to cause the non-significant orders of the right group of actuators to be disabled,

((1) a normally ineffective member for locking one of said groups of actuators,

(e) a plurality of depressible function keys,

(f) a common member operable by each one of said function keys when depressed for rendering said locking member effective,

(g) and a predisposing element adapted to assume either one or the other of two positions, said element when in one of said positions preventing said locking member from being rendered eifective by said keys and when in the other of said positions preventing the group of said printing members associated with said one group of actuators from printing.

7. A control device for a ten key adding printing machine having a totalizer split in a right portion and a left portion, two groups of actuators adapted to cooperate with said portions, a transversely traveling stop pin carriage comprising two groups of orders associated with said groups of actuators, said carriage being normally located immediately at right of the left group of actuators, and a set of forked sitting members each one operable by a key of said keyboard for simultaneously setting the pins of two corresponding orders of said carriage, comprising in combination:

(a) a normally ineffective member for locking one of said groups of actuators,

(b) a plurality of depressible function keys,

(c) and a common member operable by each one of said function keys when depressed for rendering said locking member effective.

8. A control device for a ten key adding printing machine having a totalizer split in a right portion and a left portion, two groups of actuators adapted to cooperate with said portions, a transversely traveling stop pin carriage comprising two groups of orders associated with said groups of actuators, said carriage being normally located immediately at right of the left group of actuators, a set of forked setting members each one operable by a key of said keyboard for simultaneously setting the pins of two corresponding orders of said carriage, comprising in combination: 3

(a) a normally ineffective member for locking one of said groups of actuators,

(b) a plurality of depressible function keys,

( o) a common member operable by each one of said function keys when depressed for rendering said locking member effective,

(d) and a predisposing element adapted to assume either one or the other of two positions, said element when in one of said positions preventing said locking member from being rendered eifective by said keys and when in the other of said positions preventing the group of said printing members associated with said one group of actuators from printing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

STANLEY WAL, Assistant Examiner. 

5. A CONTROL DEVICE FOR A TEN KEY ADDING PRINTING MACHINE HAVING A TOTALIZER SPLIT IN A RIGHT PORTION AND A LEFT PORTION, TWO GROUPS OF ACTUATORS ADAPTED TO COOPERATE WITH SAID PORTIONS, A TRANSVERSELY TRAVELING STOP PIN CARRIAGE COMPRISING TWO GROUPS OF ORDER ASSOCIATED WITH SAID GROUPS OF ACTUATORS, SAID CARRIAGE BEING NORMALLY LOCATED IMMEDIATELY AT RIGHT OF THE LEFT GROUP OF ACTUATORS, AND A SET OF FORKED SETTING MEMBERS EACH ONE OPERABLE BY A KEY OF SAID KEYBOARD FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY SETTING THE PINS OF TWO CORRESPONDING ORDERS OF SAID CARRIAGE, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A FIRST STOP PLATE BODILY TRAVELING WITH SAID CARRIAGE AND ADAPTED TO DISABLE THE NON-SIGNIFICANT ORDERS OF THE LEFT GROUP OF ACTUATORS, (B) A SECOND ZERO STOP PLATE BODILY TRAVELING WITH SAID CARRIAGE AND LOCATED UNDER THE ZERO PINS OF THE LEFT GROUP OF ORDERS OF SAID CARRIAGE, (C) A COUNTERSTOP PROVIDED ON EACH ACTUATOR OF THE SOLE RIGHT GROUP FOR COOPERATING WITH SAID SECOND ZERO PLATE TO CAUSE THE NON-SIGNIFICANT ORDERS OF THE RIGHT GROUP OF ACTUATORS TO BE DISABLED, (D) A NORMALLY INEFFECTIVE MEMBER FOR LOCKING ONE OF SAID GROUPS OF ACTUATORS, (E) A PLURALITY OF DEPRESSIBLE FUNCTION KEYS, (F) AND A COMMON MEMBER OPERABLE BY EACH ONE OF SAID FUNCTION KEYS WHEN DEPRESSED FOR RENDERING SAID LOCKING MEMBER EFFECTIVE. 